Concentration in Professional Writing

The professional writing concentration prepares you for a career in business, nonprofit, technical and related professions.

Preparing You for Success

Professional writing courses focus on business and technical communication, with opportunities to learn argumentative, grant and travel writing. The program is structured to enable you to add another major or minor of your choice. Small class sizes foster intellectually challenging conversations with faculty mentors and classmates.

Opportunities to write for the student newspaper, literary magazine and National Novel Writing Month

Networking and career development through the English club and Sigma Tau Delta honor society

Making Your Mark

Professional writing graduates are in demand as copywriters, grant writers, journalists, medical writers, technical writers, nonprofit organization leaders and human resources and public relations professionals. Recent graduates are working for organizations such as ConAgra Foods, State Farm and United Way. Others have pursued graduate degrees at the University of Chicago, University of Illinois and Ohio State University.

Concentration Requirements

Group A (choose one) - 3 hrs.

ENG 305: Advanced Writing—Technical Writing - 3 hrs.

ENG 306: Advanced Writing—Business Communication - 3 hrs.

Group B (choose three) - 9 hrs.

ENG 300: Advanced Writing—Exposition - 3 hrs.

ENG 301: Advanced Writing—Argumentative Writing - 3 hrs.

ENG 304: Advanced Writing—Research in Individual Disciplines - 3 hrs.

ENG 305: Advanced Writing—Technical Writing - 3 hrs.

ENG 306: Advanced Writing—Business Communication - 3 hrs.

ENG 311: Introduction to Language - 3 hrs.

ENG 313: Grammar for Writing and Speaking - 3 hrs.

ENG 492: Practicum in English - 3 hrs.

ENG 495: Independent Study - 3 hrs.

ENG 506: Writing in the Professions - 3 hrs.

ENG 508: Composing Hypertext

ENG 550: Language Theory - 3 hrs.

ENG 560: Writing Theory - 3 hrs.

Note: ENG 492 and ENG 495 are available only by consent of the department chair and must focus on professional writing (e.g. grant writing, organizational formal reports, etc.).

Course Sequence

Freshman - Fall Semester (15-17 hours)

ENG 181 Intro. to English Studies — 1

ENG 2XX English or American Lit. Survey — 3

Core Courses — 6-7

Electives — 3-6

EHS 120 University Experience

Freshman - Spring Semester (12-15 hours)

ENG 2XX English or American Lit. Survey — 3

Core Courses — 3-4

Electives — 6-9

Sophomore - Fall Semester (15-16 hours)

ENG 2XX English or American Lit. Survey — 3

ENG 270 – 3

Core Courses — 6-7

Elective — 3

Sophomore - Spring Semester (15-16 hours)

ENG 2XX English or American Lit. Survey — 3

English Elective — 3

Core Courses — 3-4

Electives — 6

Junior - Fall Semester (15-16 hours)

English Elective — 3-6

English PW Concentration Course – 3

Core Courses — 3-4

Electives — 6-9

Junior - Spring Semester (15-17 hours)

English Elective — 3-6

English PW Concentration Course – 3

Core Courses — 3-7

Electives — 6

Senior - Fall Semester (14-16 hours)

ENG 481 Senior Project — 2

English PW Concentration Course – 3

English Elective — 3-6

Core Courses — 3-6

Elective — 3

Senior - Spring Semester (15-16 hours)

English Elective — 3-6

English PW Concentration Course – 3

Core Course — 3-4

Electives — 6-9

Course sequence information is provided for sample purposes only. Students should consult with their academic advisor about their individual plan for course registration and completion of program requirements.